Ribbon



March 2, 1937. co -m 2,072,095

RIBBON Filed Nov. 4, 1935 ATTORNEY.

. Patented Mar. 1931 1 UNITED, STATES PAT NT, orrlce RIBBON I Adolph H.Cohn, New York, N. Y., assignor to Dir-Tone Ribbon Corp., Newcorporation of New York York, N. Y., a

Application November 4, 1935, Serial No. 48,175

' s 'cl'aims. (01. 154-52) The nature and objects of the instantinvention will become, apparent from the following description, appendedclaims and accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification andwherein:

Figm'e 1 is a perspective view diagrammatically showing an illustrativemethod for preparing the ribbon or tape constituting one phase of thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is an exaggerated cross-sectional view of the ribbon or tape ofthe instant invention.

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on line III- 111 of Figure l. K

Referring now to reference numerals designate like parts, the referencenumeral l designates the body or center portion of the ribbon or tapewhich, in accordance' with the principles of this invention, is formedof a woven or knitted fabric such as, for example, silk, cloth, etc. Dueto the fact that the body or center portion l is of relatively narrowwidth, i. e. from approximately /4 inch to 2 inches, it is obtained bycutting, preferably longitudinally, a web of the desired fabric. As a ano consequence, at least the edges 2 and 3' thereof are cut edges. Inorder to prevent the unravel ing of the cutcenter portion I at itsedges. and also in order to produce a highly artistic and ornamentalproduct, there is applied to each of gitudinally folded over on to thecenter-portion I and secured and bonded thereto to produce the ribbon ortape constituting one phase of the invention.

relative to the center portion vI and, in the-pre-j ferred embodiment ofthis invention, are formed of regenerated cellulose, the latter being ofany appropriate color and transparent or opaque. The regeneratedcellulose strips may also beof -the coated variety, 1. e. lacquered,varnished,

moistureproofed, etc. They may also be of-the 'metalized variety: Stillfurther, they'may be- 50 decorated, as by having appropriate designs andthereon or otherwise appliedmama Printed thereto. It is'to be understoodthat, though in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the edgestrips 4 are made of regenerated cellulose 55 of the typesaforementioned, the invention is not undesirable consequences obtainedwhen a liquid the edges 2 and 3, in the manner hereinafter more fullyexplained, a strip of material 4 lon- The edge strips I are ofappropriate widths restricted thereto. Any strip formed of nonfibrousmaterial and colored, coated and/or. decorated as previously describedmay be used.

, The bonding of the strips 4 to the center or body portion .l attheedges 2 and 3 of the latter 5 "is an important feature of thisinvention. Due

to the factthat the center or body portion l is of a fibrous nature,liquid adhesives cannot successfully be utilizedin bonding the edgestrips to the body portion to produce satisfactory fibbons. When aliquid adhesive is employed, it is absorbed' by the fibers ofthe centerportion and,- due -to the capillary attraction thereof, the adhesivewill spread irregularly throughout. As a consequence, the center portionwill be irregularly marked adjacent the application of the adhesive withthe result that the product' will have.

. an unsightly appearance. the drawing wherein like] I have found thatthe serious defects and the adhesive is employed can be overcome if theedge strips 4 are bonded to the center portion I through the medium of athermoplastic adhe- .sive. Thus, in accordance with the principles ofthis invention, the edge strips 4 are secured to the edges 2 and 3 ofthe center portion I through the medium of a thermoplastic adhesive 5.Any adhesive which bec'omes energized upon the application of heat andwhich sets, with or. without chemical change, upon cooling can beutilized in this invention. Thermoplastic cement No. 4620, made and soldby E. I. du 'Pont de N ours &- Company, is an illustrative thermoplas cadhesive which has given satisfactory results.

Referring now. to Figure '1, wherein there is shown an illustrativeprocess for making" the ribbon or tape constitutingone phase of theinvention, strips 4', after having a coating-of the thermoplasticadhesive 5 applied on one side thereof, are fed adjacent th e respectiveedges 2 and :3 of the center portionand longitudinally folded in anysuitable and convenient manner into a U-shape withthe respective edge ofthe center portion embraced between the legs of the U, as illustrated.The adhesive 5 is then ener- 1 gized by heat as, for example, by passingthe material between heated rolls 6 which serve to activate and energizethe thermoplastic adhesive and bring itinto intimate contact with thecenter portion. The rolls 6 may extend overthe. entire width of theribbon or only over the edge portions, as illustrated. The adhesive isthen set, as by permitting it to cool. If desired, during cooling of theadhesive the material may be kept under 'sufiicient pressure to effectthe bonding. Also, if desired, the setting of the adhesive may beaccelerated by positivelycooling the same, as by blowing air, preferablychilled,

thereon through nozzles 1, or the like.

In place of the heated rolls for activating the thermoplastic adhesive,any other means may be used to accomplish this result. Thus, theadhesive may be energized and activated by electrical heating elements,heating chambers, etc. In each of these procedures, after the activationof the adhesive, the material is brought into intimate contact by anyconvenient means such as presser rolls.

As an alternative procedure for making the ribbon or tape, each strip4', which is to constitute an edge strip 4, may be longitudinally foldedover on itself and the respective longitudinal edge of the centerportion I positioned into and between the layers of the fold.Thereafter, the adhesive may be energized and set as previouslydescribed.

- Still another alternative procedure contemplates applying thethermoplastic adhesive to both sides of the center portion l adjacentthe longitudinal edges only to which the edge strips are to be bonded.Thereafter, the edge strips may be positioned in any of the wayspreviously described, after which the bonding may be effected in themanner also previously described.

The ribbon or binding tape constituting the present invention is highlyornamental and artistic. It is not marred in any way by the adhesive. Byappropriate selection of different colors and decorations of both thecenter portion and the edge strips the product's beauty and appearancemay be materially enhanced.

Though the preferred use of the ribbon is as a binding tape, it is to beunderstood that it can be successfully used for other purposes. Forexample, the ribbon can be used wherever decorative ribbons aredesirable as for hat-banding, millinery trimming, shoe bows, dresstrimming, neckwear and ruchings, etc.

Since it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be madein the above description without departing from the nature or spiritthereof, this invention is not restricted thereto except as set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A decorative ribbon comprising a. strip of woven or knitted materialand a strip of nonfibrous material longitudinally folded over and bondedto each longitudinal edge of said woven or knitted material through themedium of a thermoplastic adhesive.

2. A decorative ribbon comprising a strip of cut fabric having a stripof regenerated cellulose longitudinally folded over and bonded to eachlongitudinal edge of said fabric by a thermoplastic adhesive.

' 3. A decorative ribbon comprising a strip 01' cut silk fabric having astrip of regenerated cellulose longitudinally folded over and bonded toeach longitudinal edge of the said silk fabric by a thermoplasticadhesive.

ADOLPH H. COHN.

